Third-placed Monaco (7-4) will seek a third straight win with a visit to Partizan (5-6), which has the aim of securing consecutive wins for the first time this season.
Sasa Obradovic, Monaco: 'It's going to be a high-energy match'
Seasons
3 Mins read
Regular Season
Round 12 of 34
Group Regular Season
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Partizan’s prolific offense ranks second in the league with 87.5 points per game, and Zeljko Obradovic’s men will look for the same explosiveness which resulted in last week’s 92-87 downing of Panathinaikos behind 23 points from Zach LeDay. That game saw Partizan sharpshooter Kevin Punter return to action with a solid 13 points after a month-long injury layoff, and his long-range shooting duel with Mike James – who leads the league in scoring (18.8 points per game) and ranks third in PIR (20.3) – is sure to provide plenty of entertainment.
Zeljko Obradovic, Partizan head coach
"Monaco is a team that played in the Final Four last season, well deserved. They play outstanding basketball. They have an even better roster now. It is information that we should be aware of who we are playing against and that we should play all 40 minutes at a high level if we want to win the game. Trifunovic and Kaminsky will not play in the match against Monaco, the other players who had problems look better and will probably be able to play. I gave the team a day off yesterday. After all and before everything what awaits us. I think it is necessary. It was important to rest both mentally and physically. I hope we will continue to play at this level as we have been lately."
Sasa Obradovic, Monaco head coach
"We're starting a very busy and difficult week with a full squad. Partizan have the advantage of their fans, who will react to every move and every decision. It's going to be a high-energy match. We've gained in confidence. Partizan have signed some new players and can count on the return of Punter. The way they beat Panathinaikos and also Fenerbahce at the end of the game gave them a lot of confidence. It's a big shock."
Kevin Punter, Partizan player
"Our desire is to win. How? By playing hard, sticking to the game plan and playing bravely. I feel good, I'm healthy. If it wasn't like that, I wouldn't be here. Everything is fine with the knee."
Matthew Strazel, Monaco player
"We lost there last year, then played there last month against Zvezda and won. It's a big atmosphere that we know and that the coach knows very well, and we'll be keen to please him by putting in a match of great intensity to go and get an away win. All away matches in the EuroLeague are won defensively, and things can go very quickly against a Partizan team driven on by its home crowd. It's going to come down to defence and we'll have to be able to control the tempo of the match."